There's a festive spirit in the air, and it's not because the fat man in red is on his way in less than a month. It's because after the jolly fella spoils us, crowds will flock to Wordfordia to be spoilt by music, art, culture and the spirit of life.
Despite the excitement in the lead-up to Woodford Folk Festival, organisers have managed to keep a three-year secret hidden to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. Until now.
The 30th Anniversary Festival poster can now be revealed as the third and final installment in a SINGLE panoramic artwork. This triptych has been three years in the making by artist-in-residence, Gavin Ryan (we think his favourite number is 3).
The timelapse video gives some idea of the evolution of the triptych and Gavin's process in working with the Woodford team to bring the posters to life.
Ryan’s artworks begin by drawing individual characters by hand, then scanning them into a computer to be coloured and manipulated into intricately detailed posters. “It’s a labour of love,” says Gavin. “By the end of a poster, I have come to know each of the poster characters as individuals with their own personalities” he explained.
According to Festival Director Bill Hauritz, the work of the creative team with Ryan will have profound consequences at the event way beyond the production of the Triptych itself. “Patrons this year will really notice the huge lift in the visual impact and atmospherics at the festival. It’s the culmination of three year’s work and people will be moved – this is the year.
“Our last three Festivals have held common threads within the Festival themes – an exploration of our identity as individuals and then relating this to a broader community context... Gavin’s illustrations have brought these ideas to life. It has been wonderful working together and it’s been hard containing our excitement” continued Hauritz.
The triptych release coincides with an ambitious partnership project between Woodford Folk Festival and Tourism and Events Queensland who commissioned mural artist David Hooper to produce two 10m x 3m murals based on Gavin's Woodford artwork. The murals were painted over four days and can be found in Sydney at 217 King Street Newtown, and well-known Street Art location Hosier Lane, in the Melbourne CBD. So the pleasure of the festival can be felt year-round in the big smoke as well as Woodfordia.
The 30th anniversary of the Woodford Folk Festival takes place 27 December until 1 January, 2016.
